While the trainers waited for their Pokemon to get to know each other, they had lunch. It was leaning a lot on meats and fish, much to Rodan's delight. Thankfully, there were enough nuts and berries for Elizabeth and Lily. Seeing them all happily eat their food warmed Daniel's heart. Although the memory of those he left behind was like a dagger sticking out of his chest.
They were not acting like it, but his team missed the rest of their family. Elizabeth sometimes missed her steps while dancing, since she no longer had Theresa, his Hatterene. Rodan wasn't around his psychic peers either: Twilight, his Galarian Rapidash and Bruce, his Medicham.
The one that he knew took it the worst was Casper. Her flock reached 10 by the time the attack happened. The ferocity she showed in the fight was testament to that. She was mourning. The fact that she took her chance to raise another flock filled him with both elation and apprehension.
"I need to get them a therapist."
The man sighed and scratched his beard.
"Didn't like the food?"
Drayden's voice broke him from his musings. "Maybe I need one too."
"Nah, it's great." He shook his head and ate another piece of bacon. "Just… thinking about stuff."
"I know that look." His tone was softer and his posture more relaxed. "I won't pry, but there are people you can speak to that can help you out. Aurea did a lot for me when I my lost one of my first Pokemon." He snorted. "I think she'll help you out too if you let her examine your team. She was over the moon when she wrote the report on them."
"I'll think about." He answered concomitantly.
More likely, he'll take the offer. Still, he needed to sit down and make the offer to his team. Privately. That's not something he wanted to do in front of another trainer.
He spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and doing light exercises with his team. Rodan took on babysitting duty with Donald and R2, where they cared for the young dragons and raced against them. Lily was taking a nap, laying her head on Mothra's fur. The Volcarona didn't look thrilled about the arrangement, but some coaxing and treats were enough to convince her. Gamera took a dip on the river, napping away and ignoring the curious Horseas.
Elizabeth meditated beside her trainer. They sent and received aura from each other, trying to deepen their bond. Both had a conflicting aspect that complicated it: Daniel's Fairy aura and Elizabeth's Fighting aura.
They had a hard time in the beginning, when he was just 17 and out for his second circuit. Getting her, Casper, and Bruce to a good baseline was hard, but he was happy with the results.
A mental nudge startled him. Elizabeth was looking at him directly with narrowed eyes. She sent feelings of discipline and focus to him over their connection. Daniel chuckled and closed his eyes.
"Sorry for that, Lizzie."
She sent him the mental equivalent of a sigh and sent her energy to him. A mixture of greens and oranges, just like autumn. The outside world melted away as it touched him, immersing him in its sensation.
It felt like calm, like a meadow inside a forest. The warmth of the sun on his skin and faraway birds chirping. Flowers blooming around him and feeling one with nature. Yet there was an undercurrent of conflict. Of trees competing for the best spot in the sun. Grasses choking each other out for nutrients. Animals and insects alike fighting for their survival.
He accepted it all. Even if some aspects clashed with him, he didn't turn them away. Daniel found beauty even in those sometimes meaningless battles. This is what Elizabeth was.
Through their bond, he sent back acceptance, contentment, and a willingness to help her grow as tall and strong as a tree. His aura was a bright pink, cheerful and mischievous. Beneath it all, hiding alien darkness. Otherness.
Their auras mingled, feeding and enriching each other. Sun setting on the glade to give way to the moon. Night giving way to rest, recovery, and stories about the dangers of being alone in the dark.
When he opened his eyes, he noticed Drayden was a lot closer than he realized. The man was watching him like a Watchog, just missing the red eyes.
"Is it that simple?"
"I told you it would be simple, just tedious."
Elizabeth smacked Daniel on the arm.
"Well, not tedious. It just takes a lot of time."
The Pokemon seemed pleased with the correction. She nodded and went to practice her dancing. Her trainer just smirked and addressed Drayden.
"It's simple, and not at the same time. You need to commune; both contribute to the energy." He made circling gestures. "It has the precise. Always give the exact same amount on each side. Over time, it gets easier and easier until you can do some tricks."
[Like this]
Drayden flinched when he suddenly heard Daniel's voice inside his head. The reaction was enough to make the time traveler laugh out loud.
"So." Drayden continued, not too bothered by the 'prank.' "How long did you do this?"
"To do it correctly? 2 or 3 months." He shrugged. "To do it in battle. Pfff, that took years. You already should have some understanding of aura, so it shouldn't take that long."
Both watched their teams unwind from the fight in their little ways. Although they didn't seem to interact with one another. Except for Altaria, who was racing Rodan and the small ones.
Before long, Casper and Salamence joined them. The latter looking even more exhausted than before. The Dragapult descended in front of Daniel with a grin. He could see she was out of breath, but nothing else apart from that. Yet…
"We're not replacing them, ok?" Daniel hugged her, sending feelings of love and acceptance. "This is just a new chapter in our lives… They'll always be in my heart, and I know they'll always be in yours."
The Dragapult let out a small cry and coiled her ghostly tail around him. Even if it was a bit painful, he didn't fight her grasp.
Feelings of loneliness, darkness and loss hit him like a Hyperbeam. It amplified the ones he was already feeling, gripping his heart and trying to tear it to pieces. He felt cold, alone, surrounded by those left behind. Fog enveloped him, and voices whispering around him. Some cursed him, some offered him to join, other laughed at his misfortune.
He evened his breath, trying his best to weather it and send his encouragement back to her.
As moments passed. The sensation changed as his aura mingled with hers. Moonlight shone through the fog. Voices melted away and the chill turned comfortable.
"It's ok, girl." He whispered to her, petting her pristine scales. "You're not alone."
The Dragapult relaxed, reigning in her aura back to herself. When sunlight shone again around him, he noted that all his team was surrounding them. All of them radiated sadness, but also comfort and joy in having one another. Despite their fractured family, they did not feel alone.
"Now, go get a shower from Gamera, you smell weird." Daniel lightly slapped her away.
She looked back at him indignantly, but still followed the instruction. Gamera shot a low powered Water gun at her with a smirk. Her children climbed back to her horn, ready to be shot towards the smug Lapras.
"Sorry for the… That." Daniel finally addressed Drayden, a wry smile on his face.
"It's fine." He dismissed. "I had to deal with that in the past. I understand."
He looked up, melancholy in his eyes. Daniel didn't want to pry; the man gave him that courtesy and he would return the favor.
After sharing some tips about meditation and aura sensing, Daniel left for his home. It was already late afternoon, but nobody was waiting for him. Instead of the train, he took to the skies on top of Rodan.
Everything felt so alien to him. So different. The quality of the air, the gentle chill of the night, the light of skyscrapers in the distance…
[Are you feeling ok, master?]
Rodan's voice rang inside his head. Feelings of worry came with it.
"Yes, just." He fully laid down on the saddle, head touching his plumage. "You know how it is."
[I do, master.]
[YOU HAVE (2) UNREAD MESSAGES FROM: ROSE JOY.]
R2's reminder buzzed in his left ear, reminding him that he needed a replacement for that. He tried to look at the message on his bracer and noted he still had it on 'belt mode.'
"Bracer."
It turned into liquid and reformed back into his bracer. A quick look revealed to be just pleasantries and a list of names and photos of children. Confusion washed over him momentarily before he remembered his new job.
"R2, remind me when we get home. For now, let's just take the scenic route."
[Understood, master.]
[UNDERSTOOD.]
Still, there was no hurry to answer or to get back home. He would enjoy his well-earned rest.
A/N: bit smaller today, compensating a bit on the longer chapters recently. Teacher arc incoming!